Semiautomatic rifle



Dec. 27, 1932. J. c. GARAND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed April 21. -1930 9Sl'leebS-Shel l Dec. 27, 1932. J. c, GARAND 1,892,141

SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed April 2l, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 v ATTORNEYDec. 27, 1932. J. c. GARAND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed April 2l. 1930 9Sheets-.Sheet 3 INVENTOIL L Inhn E- Gewand ATTORNEY v1 17.1.1.5 bllum@Dec. 27, 1932. J. c. GARAND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed April 21, 1930 9sheets-smeet 4 DSC. 27, 1932. C, GARAND 1,892,141

SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE l Filed April 2l, 1930 9 SheetS-Sheeb 5 INVENTOR.dnl-m E {Saran-Ld A TTORNEY Dec. 27, 1932. 1 Q GARAND l,892,l41

SEMIAUTOMATIG RIFLE Filed April 2l. 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Jah-r1 E4. Gara-FL@ BY ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1932.

J. C. GARAND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed April 2l. 1930 su. [-f, f/a aaEJE- 9 Sheets-.SheetI l EJE..

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INVENTOR. Jahn E- Carami TORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR.

Jahn E Earand BY WMZ ATTORNEY J. C. GARAND SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE FlledAprll 2l 1930 DBC. 27,-1932. 1 Q GARAND 1,892,141

SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Filed April 2l. 1930 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOILJahn C- Earand BY MKM A TTORNE Y Patented 91u12?, i932 a saar itdi 'FFME SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLE Application led April 21, 1930. Serial No.446,079.v

(GRANTEDv UNDER THE ACT F MARCH 3, 1883, AS AHENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 3700. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and usedby or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the paymentto me of any royalty thereon.

5 The, subject of this invention is a firearm and more specifically afirearm of the gas'actuated type. v

Vith the average firearm, especially a shoulder arm, there is alwaysdanger of the 1o stock being deflected through warping or through thestrain placed thereon by the user particularly in the prone positionwhen using the sling. This distortion of the stock is detrimental toaccurate shooting by reason of the factthat the barrel is so connectedto the stock as to be thrown out of line. overcome in the presentinstance by allowing the barrel to be free from the stock, beingsupported therein only by the receiver. Another S3 advantage of thisconstruction resides in the fact that the gun may be disassembledwithout disturbing the sling'or having the sling connecting differentelements of the disassembled structure.

In the construction of the present firearm there has been provided-anovel guard and trigger assembly which maybe secured to or removed fromthe receiver as a unit and in which there is provided a latch for firmlysecuring the unit to the receiver, a safety which also serves to holdthe latch in latching position and simple resilient means for holdingthe trigger, actuating the striker and safety, and performing otherfunctions.

" The invention also contemplates providing novel means for actuatingthe breech bolt automatically together with means for adjusting orregulating the action of such means or o cutting ofi' such 'actionentirely. There is also provided mechanism for moving ammunition intoposition to be fed into the ca'rtridge chamber so constructed that thefollower is always in the proper angular posi- 3 tion to contact theammunition at its lower surface and such means also serve to operatemeans whereby the bolt operating mechanism is locked in bolt retractedposition when the last cartridge has beenejected from the arm 3 andfurther serve to move an indicator to po- This defect is A position whenthe bolt is unlocked.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a novel striker andtrigger construction which allows the striker to be engaged and held bythe trigger eventhough a5 the trigger is still retained in retractedposition when the striker is thrown back, and to still hold the strikerwhen the trigger is then released. A novel upper band is providedmounting the front sight by which it is locked in position on thebarrel.

With these and such other objects in view as may hereinafter more fullyappear the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination ofparts and in the details of F5 of construction' hereinafter describedand claimed, it being understood, however, that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

One practical embodiment of the invention is disclosed by way ofillustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation showing the right side of a firearmconstructed in accordance with the invention;

dFig 2 is a similar view showing the left s1 e;

Figs. 3 and 3a are respectively fragmentaryA Vertical longitudinalsections of the breechv and muzzle portions of the firearm, the partsshown in normal fully loaded posi- 4tion with the breech closed;

Figs. 4 and 4a are similar views with the o parts shown in positionassumed when the clip has been emptied and the firearmis ready forreloading;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sec- 100 tion showing the positionof the parts at the instant of firing;

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line Fig. 7 is a transversesection taken on the line A-A of Fig. 5;

Fi 8 is a transverse section taken on the line B of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line I--H of Fig. 5, showing the clipin place;

Fig. 1() is a sectional view taken on the line D-D of Fig. 3;

Figs. 11 and l2 are similar views taken respectively on the lines E-Eand F--F of Fig. 3a;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the bolt;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of same;

- Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line J-J of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the left side of thefirearm;

Fig. 17 is a similar View of the right side;

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal section of the resilient element interposedbetween the trigger and striker, fragments of which are shown;

Fig. 19 is a plan view thereof, the striker shown in section;

Fig. 20 is a disassembled View in side elevation of the receiver andguard, the assembled position of the receiver shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 21 isa View in elevation of the muzzle of the firearm;

Fig. 22 shows views in side elevation partly in section and frontelevation, respectively of .the muzzle piece;

.Fig. 23 is a view in elevation of the front end of the stock with theferrule in place thereon;

Fig. 24 is a plan view of the connecting rod catch;

Fig. same;

Fig. 26 shows views in side and front elevation of the ejector;

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, partly in section, ofthe butt of the stock;

Fig. 28 shows the cartridge guide in plan 25 is a view in side elevationof the view, side and front elevations respectively;

Fig. 29 is a fragment-ary plan view of the front end of the receiver;

Fig. 30 is a section taken on the line G-G of Fig. 20;

Fig. 31 is a view in rear elevation of the 'connecting rod; and

Fig. 32 is'a fragmentary view in elevation of the inner face of the rearportion of the connecting rod.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference:

There is provided a stock 10 of suitable formation having, as usual, anaperture for the reception of the receiver and the guard in from thebutt of the stock.

trigger. group which clamps to the receiver and secures the partsoperatively to the stock. The stock toward its forward end is engaged bythe lower band 11 which carries the usual sling swivel 12.

The butt of the stock (see Fig. 27) may bc provided with the usual plate13 and adjacent the butt is secured the rear sling swivel which ispreferably formed and secured in place as follows to provide a permanentand secure fastening. An aperture is formed in the stock to receive theplate or bar 14 on an end of which the swivel 15 is formed. The plate orbar 14 is drilled and tapped to receive the threaded end of a screw 16which is threaded rl`he forward end of the stock is preferably protectedby a ferrule 13a, as seen most clearly in Fig. 23.

rl`he guard trigger group (see Figs. 20, 3, 4 and 5) comprises the frame17 angled at each end to enable it to be firmly wedged in the stock andformed with a stud 18 adapted to be seated in a recess 19 of thereceiver to take end and lateral thrusts, and with a cross wall 20 whichstrengthens the structure, takes lateral thrusts and retains the workingparts in gear when the guard group is disassembled from the firearm. Theguard may be formed with a forwardly projecting portion 21 which forms abottom for the magazine or chamber in which the cartridge clip is housedand on this portion are formed (see Fig. 9) lugs 22 and stud 23 tosecure the clip ejecting spring 24 which spring has at its rearv endlateral arms 25 and 26, the arm 25 being lower than the arm 26 toaccommodate the spring to the unevenness in the sides of the clip.

Suitable supporting means are provided conveniently through an aperturedlug 27 on the cross Wall 20 and the side wall of the frame 17 for thesupport of various parts hereinafter to be Set forth.

Mounted within the guard is a safety 28 carrying a stud 29 adapted to bereceived in an aperture in a wall of the guard, throu h which means thesafety is pivoted. At lts lower end the safety projects through anopening in the guard and adjacent to such projecting end it is providedwith a slot 30 adapted to receive a latch bar 31 in such mannerA thatwhen the safety is in the.on or safe position the latch bar may movefrom the slot to permit the, latch to swing to unlatched position,while, when the safety is in the off position, the bar may not move fromthe slot and the latch is locked.

The latch consists of a plate 32 (see Fig. 7) in which the bar 31 issecured, or with which it may be integral, bifurcated at its upper endto provide the arms 33 which are apertured -to receive the ends of thelatch pivot 34 which passes through the apertures of the lug 27 and theside wall, and these arms are offset adjacent to their upper ends, theolset portions bearing rollers 35 adapted to lis engage shoulders 36formed on the receiver. The guard is so formed that the upper surfaceadjacent to the rear and .front ends will normally bear against thereceiver leaving a clearance at the surface indicated at 37, so thatwhen the latch is thrown to locking position, the clearance is taken upand the guard sprung firmly into place.

Also mounted ou the latch pivot is 'a receiver shutter 38 which isadapted to cover an opening in the receiver uncovered by the bolt whenin normal or breech closing position. The shutter is formed with aneccentric hub 39 on which is pivotally mounted a striker 40 formed withan angularly disposed bifurcated end having shoulders 4l to be engagedby the seal' as will behereinafter explained. The striker is cut away onthat face adjacent to the safety to permit the pass sage of the strikerpast the lateral projection 42 on the safety when the safety is'in offposition and the projection in register with the path of travel of thecut away por? tion; when, however, the safety is thrown vto the onposition, the rear end of the projection 42 rides oli the surface of thestriker, retracting the striker slightly andholding it against firingmovement.

A trigger 43 is pivotally mounted in the guard as at 44 and ispreferably formed with an upwardly extending portion from the faces ofwhich project the sear 45, and guides Y 46 so spaced from each other asto permit passage of the angled end of the striker when the trigger isswung to striker releasing position. The guide 46 also-serves thepurpose of holding the striker when'the striker moves to cocked positionbefore the trigger, is released and guiding the striker into engagementwith the sear.

. Since it is highly desirable to have as few parts as possible in afirearm. a resilient element (see Figs. 18 and 19) ismade'use of as atrigger spring, striker spring, shutter actuating member and safetydetent. This element preferably consists of a sleeve 47 having at itsheaded end apcrtured ears 48 which fit loosely .on the trigger pivot pin44 and which are in communication with a groove 49 to receive a lip t50formed on the trigger. Housed in the sleeve is a compression spring 5l,one end of which bears against the head of the plunger 52 on which headis formed a knob 53 seated in a depression of the striker 40.

' As will appear from a consideration of Figs.

2 and 3, the resilient element is constantly exerting a pressure on thetrigger tending to hold it in normal position and likewise constantlypressing on the striker tending to swing it forwardly or into firingposition. Since the striker is pivotally mounted on the eccentric hub ofthe receiver shutter, it follows that the pressure on the striker isconveyed through the striker to the eccentric' hub of the shutter in amanner tending to turn the shutt r to the closed position.

The receiver 54 (see Fig. 20) is of any suitable fornito properly housethe parts operating therein or to receive the parts operativelyconnected therewith. In the present instance shoulders 36 are formed onthe receiver in position to be engaged by the rollers 35 of the guardlatch as heretofore`explained. A guideway 55 is provided in one side ofthe receiver for the connecting rod as is shortly to be explained.Grooves 56 are formed in the inner side walls of the receiver toproperly' guide and position the cartridge clip,`and a retaining memberfor the cli) is provided in the form of a. latch (see Flgs. 9 and 16)pivotally secured to the receiver along its longitudinal axis as at 57and having a recess adjacent to one end to receive a spring 58 whichtends to rock the latch about its pivot *to bring the laterallyextending linger 59 into engagement with the clip and hold thefclip inposition. At this end the latch is `preferably formed with a thumb piece6() through which the latch may be manually rocked to release the clip.At its other end the latch is formed with a laterally projecting stud 61which, as will he hereinafter explained, engages with an'operative partof the mechanism so that the latch may be automatically rocked to cliplatched and unlatched positions.

The bolt 62 (see Figs. 13, 14 and 15) isof irregular fformation and haswings extending laterally therefrom, one of which slides on the guideway63 of the receiver during reciprocation of the bolt. This wingis-'provided with lugs 64 adapted to take into notches 65 formed in thereceiver for the purpose of aiding in locking the bolt in breech closingposition. The wing on the other side has pro jecting therefrom a cammember 66 and this wing is formed to engage in a slot 67 in the receiverto likewise lock the bolt. The cam member 66 projects into a cam groovein the connecting rod for a purpose soon to be .ex-

`with a laterally extending head 72 adapted to contact a projection 73formed in the receiver when the bolt is in unlocked position so that thefiring point is retracted into the bolt, but the head is cut away at 74to pass such projection when the bolt is locked to permit the pin to bemov-ed to its extreme forward or ringposition. A recess 72a is formed inthe rear wall of thereceiver to receive the head of the firing pin uponrecoil of the bolt.

A barrel 75 is threaded or otherwise secured in the receiver and Ihaspreferably threaded to its muzzle end the forward portion 76 of theupper band 77, which is slotted to receive the front sight 78, the lowerend of which sight preferably extends into a groove 79 cutlongitudinally of the barrel so as to lock the upper band firmly inplace on the barrel. This forward portion, when in position on thebarrel, extends beyond the muzzle thereof, and into the extendingportion is threaded a muzzle piece 80, the threads of which areinterrupted by thc grooves 81 which permits the piece to be locked inposition by a screw head 82, cut away at one side to allow the muzzlepiece to be rotated when such side is turned to face the muzzle piece. t

rlhe inner end of the muzzle'piece is of slightly conical formation asindicated at 83 and terminates at the bore in a slight radius to formthe annular projection 84, this formation being for the purpose ofproperly deflecting gases. The muzzle of the gun is countersunk at 85for the same purpose and to form a seat for the end ofthe muzzle piecewhen 'it is desired to convert the arm from a y semi-automatic to ah-and operated arm.

The forward portion of the band is formed with a slot 86 opening intoits interior and slot is closed more or less by the adjustment of themuzzle piece to regulate the flow of gases to the working part-s. Theslot 86 opens into a cylinder 87 which forms a part of the upper bandand extends longitudinally of the barrel, terminating at its rear end inthe preferably integral rear element 88 of the upper band to whichelement is secured inthe usual manner the stacking swivel 89. Projectingfrom the cylinder 87 is a stud 90 which is of suitable form to take astandard bayonet as is well understood.

Working in the cylinder 87, and forced rearwardly by the expanding gasesadmitted thereto, is a piston 91 secured to the forward end ofaconnecting rod 92, which rod is formed at its rear end with a laterallyextending stud 93 adapted to ride in the guide groove 55 of thereceiver. Adjacent to the rear end of the rod and projecting laterallyfrom the outer face is an operating handle 94 through which the rod andbolt may be manually operated. A cam groove 95 is pro-l vided in theinner face of the rod adjacent to the rear end in position to receivethe cam member 67 of the bolt. The forward wall of the cam groove isinclined t'o cam the bolt to unlocked position as the rod movesrearwardly while the rear wall of the groove cooperates with the rearface of the cam to rock the bolt toward locked position as the rod movesforwardly toward normal position.

As will be seen most clearly in Figs. 3 and Y 4, the rear portion of theconnecting rod is offset from the main portion which latter portion isof tubular formation to house a spring 96, the forward end of whichrests against the piston 97 suitably secured in the forward end of therod and the rear end of which contacts the forward end of a follower '99projecting laterally from the lower end of the follower upper lever,which lever may be conveniently formed with a laterally ex? tending pin100 through which the lever may be pivotally mounted in apertures formedin spaced ears 101 depending from the forward end of the receiver. Anarm 102 extends rearwardly from the' lever and has a laterallyextending-stud 103 at its rear end adapted to enter an aperture 104formed in the follower 105. -Extending upwardly from the lever may be apointer 106 for the purpose of indicating the number of rounds in themagazine by registering with a scale 107 provided at the side of thereceiver.

The follower lower lever has a stud 108 projecting laterally froln oneend thereof to enter an aperture 109 in the follower. The other end ofthis lever is bifurcated to provide spaced arms having adjacent theirfree ends the trunnions 110 which are adapted to be sprung intoapertures 111, provided in.

the spaced ears depending from the forward end of the receiver. At thesesame ends the arms are cut away on a reduced radius to provide the teeth112 which cooperate with teeth 113-113, formed on a connecting rod catchfor the purpose of operating the same to engaged and disengagedpositions:

The connecting rod catch is plvotally mounted on the pin 100 and isprovided at its rear end with an aperture 114-to receive the stud 61,extending from the forward end of the clip latch. It will be apparentthat, as the follower is forced upwardly by the spring, the rear teeth112 will approach the teeth 113 and, when the follower has reached itsuppermost position these teeth will contact, throwing the catch toengage the 11p 115 on the connecting rod. When the catch has beenthrownto this position the upper wall of the aperture 114 willl Contactthe top of the stud 61 depressing the same and rocking the clip latch onits pivot to release the clip which will then be immediately ejected bythe clip ejecting spring 24.

Also mounted on the pin 100 is a cartrldge guide 116 which may be formedwith a Stud -receiver and its front edge engaged under 117 to enter anaperture 118 formed in the receiver and with a foot portion 119 adaptedto rest on the forward edge of the guard.

A perforated protector 119 may be provided to protect the hand from thehot barrel, conveniently held in place by having its rear edge seated ina groove in the front of te t e upper band.

The receiver may rear sight 120.

. `The operation of the firearm is as follows:

To operate as a hand-operated arm, the muzzle piece is screwed in toseat against the muzzle of the barrel, thus cutting ofi' entry be formedto receive the of gas to the cylinder and piston. The bolt may then beretracted manually through the bolt handle.

To operate semi-automatically, the muzzle piece is screwed out away fromthe muzzle of the barrel to allow a desired amount of gas to enter thecylinder and act on the piston.

A clip containing cartridges is inserted in the magazine, being held inplace therein by the clip latch. This action Vdepresses the follower,rocks the connecting rod catch to free the clip latch and connectingrod, and also moves the indicator to register full magazine. Insertionof the clip releases the bolt which moves forward, inserting a cartridgein the chamber and leaving the arm in a position to be fired.

Upon firing the bolt remains locked until the bullet has passed from thebarrel, allowing the gases of explosion to enter the cylinder and forcethe piston and connecting rod rearwardly. Rearward movement of theconnecting rod cams the bolt to unlocked position and at the same timecams the firing pin to safe position, then carries the bolt rearwardlyallowing the extractor to extract the empty shell which is then ejectedby the ejector.

Movement of the piston, connecting rod and bolt rearwardly, compressesthe spring housed in the connecting rod, thereby assuring suicientpressure on the follower rod to act-nate the follower to force acartridge from the clip into the path of the bolt on its forwardmovement which movement is caused by the expansion of the aforesaidspring.

I claim: v

1. The combination with a gun stock, `of a guard, a receiver, a latchcarried by one of said elements and means on the other of said elementsadapted to be engaged by said latch to secure the stock, guard andreceiver in assembled relation.

2. The combination with a gun stock, of a guard, a receiver, a latchcarried by one of said elements, rollers on the latch, and shoulders onthe other of said elements contacted by the rollers to secure the partsin assembled relation.

3. The combination with a\ gun stock, of a guard, a receiver, a latchcarried by one of said elements, means on the other of said elements tobe engaged by the latch to secure the parts in assembled relation, asafety, and

means on the safety engageable withthe latch l to retain the latch inlatched position while the safety is in the olf position.

Il. The combination with a gun stock, of a A guard, a receiver, a latchcarried by one of said elements, means on the other of said elements tobe engaged by the latch to secure the parts in assembled relation, asafety provided with a slot, and means on the latch engageable in theslot to retain the latch in latched position'while the safety is in theoff position.

5.. The combination with a gun provided with a receiver, of a boltreciprocable in the receiver', a firing pin reciprocable in the bolt, alaterally extending head for the pin, and means in the receiver toengage the head on rocking of the bolt to unlocked position to retractthe pin.

6. The combination with a gun provided with a receiver, of a boltreciprocable in the receiver, a liring pin in the bolt, an extractorcarried by the bolt, and means on the extractor to prevent rotation ofthe pin \with respect to the bolt.

7. The combination with a g'un provided y with a receiver, of a boltreciprocable in the receiver, a firing pin in the bolt, an extractorcarried by the bolt and means on the extractor cooperating with the pinto limit movement thereof.

8. The combination with a gun provided with a receiver, of a boltreciprocable in the receiver, a firing pin in the bolt, an extractorcarried by the bolt and means on the extractor to limit reciprocatorymovement of the pin with respect to the bolt and 'prevent rotarymovement thereof with respect thereto.

9. The combination in a gun, embodying a cartridge magazine, of afollower for forcing cartridges from the magazine, a resilientlyheldbolt operating reciprocable element on the gun, and a connectionbetween the follower and the'resilient portion of said element.

10. The combination in a gun having automatic feed, of a follower, linksconnecting the follower to the gun, a resiliently held reciprocableelement onf the gun, and a connection between the links and theresilient member of said element.

11. The combination in a gun having automatic feed, of a follower, linksconnecting the follower to the gun, a reciprocable element carried bythe gun, a resilient member normally holding said element, a connectionbetween the resilient member and the links, a catch carried by the gunfor latching the reciprocable member against movement when the followeris in its uppermostposition, and

CTI

cooperating means on the catch and links for actuating said catch.

l2. The combination cartridge clip, means for latching the clip in placein the gun, a follower, means for actuating the follower to forcecartridges from the clip, and means actuated by the follower actuatingmeans when the clip is empty to unlatch the clip.

3. The combination with a gun, including a magazine, of a clip forinsertion in the magazine, means for latching the clip in place, afollower, means for actuating the follower to force cartridges from theclip, means actuated by actuation of the follower'when thc clip is emptyto unlatch the clip, and a resilientelcment secured to the bottom of themagazine for automatically expelling the clip when unlatched.

11. The combination in a gun, of a trigger, a hammer controlled by saidtrigger, a 1e with a gun, of a ceiver shutter and a resilient element toactuate the hammer and receiver shutter, and hold the trigger in normalposition.

15. The combination in a gun, of a trig ger, a. hammer controlled bysaid trigger, a receiver shutter, a safety, and a resilient element toactuate the hammer and receiver shutter, to hold the trigger in normalposisafety when in on position.

16. The combination in a gun, of a trigger, a receiver shutter pivotallymounted in the gun, an eccentric lug on the shutter, a hammer controlledby the trigger pivotally mounted on the lug, and a resilient elementinterposed between the trigger and hammer, for actuating the hammer-andreceiver shutter, and retaining the trigger in normal position.-

17. The combination with a lirearm provided ceiving a. cartridge clip ofa latch pivoted along its longitudinal axis to the receiver, a thumbpiece on the latch for manual operation thereof, a projection on thelatch extending into the receiver to engage the clip, and a stud on thelatch to be engaged by a movable element of the firearm to automaticallyoperate the latch.

18. The combination with a gun of the gas operated type provided with agas cylinder, of a piston Working in the cylinder, an operatingrodengaged by the piston, an operating spring guided by the rod, aconnection between the rod and operative parts of the gun, and afollower rod engaged byv the spring, and through pressure imparted tothespring operating other parts of the gun.

19. The combination with a gas operated gunv provided vWith a gascylinder, a breech bolt, a follower, an operating rod catch, an

of a piston workan operating rod engaged connected to the, breechindicator and a clip latch, ing in the cylinder, by thepiston and with areceiver and a-magazine for rebolt, a sprin uided by the operating rod,a follower rodgegaged by the spring and having operative connection Withthe follower, operating rod catch, indicator, and clip` latch.

20. The combination With a gun of the gas operated type; of an upperband embodying a gas cylinder, a sight base and a muzzle gland receivingopening; and a muzzle gland secured in said opening to regulate the flowof gas to the cylinder.

21. The combination with a gun of the gas operated type; of an upperband embodying a gas cylinder, a sight base and a muzzle gland receivingopening; and a muzzle gland adjustably secured in said opening to regulate the flow of gas to the cylinder.-

22. The combination with a gun of the gas operated type; of an upperband embodying a cylinder, a sight base and a muzzle gland receivingopening; a muzzle gland adjustably secured in said opening to regulatethe iow of gas to the cylinder, and means for locking the gland inadjusted positions.

23. In a rifle, in combinatlon, a. receiver, atrigger guard, abutting lsurfaces on the guard and receiver establishing a' clearance betweenother surfaces of the guard and receiver, and a latch carried by one ofsaid elements and cooperating with means on the other to take up saidclearance and spring the receiver and guard together.

24. In a rifie, in combination, a receiver, a trigger guard frame, meansfor detachably securing said guard frame to said receiver comprising pinand socket engagement between the receiver and the rear end of saidguard frame, between the receiver and the forward -end of said guardframe, and a latch connection between said receiver and an intermediateportion of said guard frame.

JOHN C. GARAND.

